Shaving method



Oct. 13, 1942. P. N. PETERS 2,298,508

SHAVING METHOD Filed June 14, 1939 INVENTOR. PeIerMcZm/as Elem,

BY 6261M ATTORNEY.

Pat ented Oct. 13, 1942 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

2,298,508 SHAVING METHOD Peter Nicholas Peters, New York, N. Y.Application June 14, 1939, Serial No. 279,005

2 Claims.

My invention is concerned with shaving methods and, more particularly,with the manner of shaving the human face.

As is well known, most men use hot water in shaving, although someprefer'cold water and some show predilection for lukewarm water. Inevery case, the same temperature characteristics are applied to both,skin and razor, e. g., when shaving with hot water, both the skin andthe razor are heated, and when shaving with cold water, both the skinand the razor are cooled. It is this similarity of temperaturecharacteristics which accounts for much of the discomfort complained ofby shavers, such, for instance, as the razor pull. The object of myinvention is to do away with this discomfort.

In order better to understand the invention, it may be well to describebriefly the prevailing process of shaving. In this process, a blade edgeglides over the lubricated surface of the skin, comes in contact withthe thoroughly wetted and degreased hairshaft, nicks it, burrows intoit, and finally cuts it off at the base. So long as there is only a sidethrust, there is no razor pull, but, under this thrust, the hairshaftbends and is obliquely sliced instead of being sheared off or cut at aright angle. As a result, the side thrust is translated into an upwardor longitudinal pull. It is this condition which the present inventionseeks to remedy. The means for accomplishing this constitutes the mostessential requirement of eflicient shaving. I have found that, if razorpull is to'be avoided, hair must be cut before it has a chance to bend.The resistance of the hair to bending must be greater than itsresistance to shearing.

Now, resistance to bending depends primarily on the firmness of thetissues which surround and support the hair follicle. It is an effort toincrease this resistance which prompts men to tighten the skin bystretching it with the fingers. Others endeavour to increase thisresistance by using cold, instead of hot, water when shaving. n theother hand, resistance to shearing is determined mainly by the conditionof the hair itself. This resistance is effectively reduced by moistureand heat. Moisture is supplied by the application of 'water and soappreparatory to shaving. Heat is supplied by water, provided that hotwater is used in the operation.

Here is where trouble arises. Water acts both on the skin and on thehair. When the water is hot, while it reduces the resistance of the hairto shearing, it at the same time destroys the firmness of the tissues inwhich the follicle is embedded, thereby reducing the resistance of thehair to bending. .Heat tends to stimulate local blood circulation; bloodvessels located directly underneath the skin become dilated and fill upwith extra blood. The increased liquid content of the aflected tissuesmakes the latter soft, flabby, and no longer capable of maintaining afirm grip on the hair follicle.

When the water is cold, the skin is chilled, blood vessels becomeconstricted, local blood circulation is reduced, skin muscles tightenup, un-- derlying tissues harden and strengthen their grip on the hair.Resistance of the hair to' bending is increased, but there is noadequate reduction in resistance to shearing.

What is required in an efiicient method of shaving is to increase theresistance of the hair to bending and, at the same time, to reduce itsresistance to shearing, or, to put it in another way, the eflicientmethod should embody means for softening the hair while, at the sametime, stiffening the skin.

It is the purpose of my invention to evolve a simple and practicalshaving technique which retains the beneficial effects of both hot andcold water and, at the same time, avoids the disadvantages peculiar toeither. This purpose is attained by the simple expedient of chilling theskin and supplying heat to the wetted hair through contact with a heatedrazor blade, thus eifecting directly'opposite temperature changes in theskin and in the hair, in contradistinction to the prevailing method ofheating or cooling both the hair and the skin.

The chilling of the skin may be effected in various ways, in all ofwhich blood circulation is reduced and remains slowed down during theshaving operation. The latter requirement is not met by the use ofalcohol containing lotions which are popular with some men, because,after a momentary initial cooling effect, such lotions tend to stimulateblood circulation. The preferred and, also, the simplest way of coolingthe skin is by application of cold water.

The razor blade may be heated either by immersing it in hot water, orelectrically, or in any other suitable manner. When the razor, with asupply of heat stored in it, comes in contact with the hairshaft, heatis transmitted to' the hair at exactly the right spot, viz., at thebase, and at exactly the right moment. The chilled skin keeps a firmhold on the hair follicle and acts to prevent bending of the hairshaft,and the moist heat transmitted to the hair insures prompt and cleanshearing action. The hairshaft iscut beiore any bending can take place.In this improved method of shaving, short, rapid strokes arerecommended, because such action lessens the dissipation of heat andbecause momentum is of noticeable help in electing a clean cut. 7

The process is illustrated in the annexed drawing in which Figures 1-3show diagrammatically the razor action when heat is applied to both theskin and the blade; and Figures 4-8 show the action of the same bladewhen my improved method of shaving is used. Figures 1 and 4 show therelative positions of the blade I and hairshait 2, as the edge of theblade comes in "ia'iasoe has become taut, unyielding. Resistance of thehair to bending is increased.- The hair-shaft. softened by heattransmitted irom the advancing blade, oflers less resistance to shearingthan to bending. The hair is cut beiore it has a chance to bend. The cutis clean and practically at a right angle to the length of thehairshait. There Having fully described and explained my improved methodof shaving, I claim:

1. Preliminary steps in a shaving operation, including, in combination.the cooling of the skin suflicient to reduce, tor the duration oi theshave, the blood content oi the underlying hairsupporting tissue, andthe application 0! heat to the razor, to bring heat to the hair shaftsduring the shaving stroke.

2. Preliminary steps in a shaving operation, including, in combination,the wetting of the face with water cold enough to reduce, for theduration of the shave, the blood content 01' the underlyinghair-supporting tissue, and the application oi hot water to the razor,to bring heat to the hair shafts during the shaving stroke.

PETER mcnoms PETERS.

